A rising star in college golf is heading to Gainesville.
Noah Kent, who nearly won the U.S. Amateur last summer at Hazeltine, is transferring from Iowa to Florida. The sophomore standout made the announcement Saturday after entering the transfer portal earlier this month.
He’s been on fire lately. Kent finished in the top 13 in all four of his tournaments this fall for Iowa, helping him climb to No. 69 in the college golf rankings. He’s also ranked No. 197 among all amateur golfers worldwide.
His talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. Kent was one of just 16 players invited to the prestigious U.S. Walker Cup practice session, putting him in elite company.
But there’s a catch – NCAA rules mean Kent can’t play for Florida until next fall. He’ll finish out this spring season with Iowa.
The move is huge for Florida’s golf program. The Gators, who won the national championship two years ago, are currently ranked 14th in the country. Kent will have two years of eligibility when he joins them.
But his arrival creates an interesting puzzle for Florida. The SEC is bringing in new rules that will limit teams to just eight players starting next fall. With seven players already returning and three new recruits signed before Kent, something’s got to give.
The Gators will have some tough choices ahead. But that’s tomorrow’s problem – for now, they’ve landed one of college golf’s most promising young talents.
